The Sunset Trail

from being a natural captain of men, had had his genius for strategy ripened as a scout-pupil of the great Ben Clark during the Cheyenne wars, and on this ballot occasion cont

iver; and since Mr. Walker, proprietor of the Cross-K, was an enemy of Mr. Kel

of the franchise to Mexicans would be subversive of goo

the limit off in this ridiculous fashion we might as well send for Bear Shield's band of Cheyennes and tell them to get into the game. To grant Mexicans the right to vote is to make

y. There were ten of the Mexicans and the contest was close; the judges remembered these thing

ter comment on Mr. Masterson's oration, "or I might ha

fled the friendship of Mr. Kelly. What could he do for Mr. Masterson? The latter, as sheriff of Ford, already held an office superior even to that of Mr. Kelly's. Clearly, Mr. Masterson was beyond and above the touch of his grat

dly deeds upon his head. As mayor Mr. Kelly, under the State law just passed, could construct the post of marshal. The town had never had such an officer. Thus far it had needed none; Mr. Masterson, in his good-natured way, had stepped outside t

Ed. When Mr. Kelly had completed this plan he rewarded himself with four fingers of Old Jordan; a glow overspread his countenance as he considered that he might thus requite t

with him touching that marshalship, and the exaltation of his brother. On second thought Mr. Kelly did not regret the absence of Mr. Masterson; that marshalship would be a pleasant bit

a novelty in its destinies which descends upon it as a surprise. The word, therefore, was sent th

acock were understood to disparage the design. As for Mr. Walker of the Cross-K, his condemn

on the counter, "if the Masterson family is goin' to be sawed onto

Long Branch to note how a rival trade progressed, "I've always

ull both," reto

person of inquiring mind had set forth his desire for information with a six-shooter, and as Mr. Short was back of the box at the time, and the bullets were addressed to him personally, his retort was upheld by all impartial men

Messrs. Walker and Webster and Peacock were of the opposition, and Mr. Kelly was too good an executive to listen to his enemies. He would name Ed

in the discharge of his duty. Following his return Mr. Masterson strode into the Alhambra with the purpose of restoring himself and conquering a fatigue incident to his labours. It was then that Mr. Kelly

rmed by Mr. Masterson's evident dist

" groaned Mr. Master

him the first flash out o' the box. Bob Wrigh

and Luke believe it's the thing to do. But they don't know Ed

ncing a critical disbelief, "no game

ent. Those outlaws from below will study him, and in the wind-up they'll outwit him. If

Ed was killin' buffalo down on the Canadian for Billy Dixon, Ed

. And he can't read his man. Indians and Mexicans? yes; I'd trust Ed to take a six-shooter and report favourably on twenty of 'em at a clatter. But a white man is too cunning; those Texas killers that come over the Jon

I do? I've alr

tion planted in Ed's head, and you couldn't shoot it out with a buffalo gun! The way you've put

an incident which went far to uphold the fears of Mr. Masterson. It was made plain, even to the dullest, that Marsh

till four hours high. A lonesome stranger had sought the Dance Hall; finding tha

o which reposed at the far end of the room. The lonesome stranger put three bullets through and through the instrument; and, as each cut a string, the def

is pistol, called aloud upon Marshal Ed for aid. That officer responded, an

in his belt, and never a move toward his weapon, "here

The latter, upon this hint, got his own artillery to bear and, while the shot in his shoulde

im in the most unofficial spirit and beat him with his pistol. When Mr. Masterson came upon the field his li

that arrived with Mr. Masterson. Then, in reply to the latter's inquiry: "No, he didn't do anything

minutes later, he learned of the bullet in Marshal Ed's shoulder. It

en, when he's plugged you, and you on your side have dropped him with a bullet in his leg, you beat him over the head!-him, with two cartrid

ullet in Marshal Ed's shoulder, while Mr. Masterson, after freeing h

ressed friend at the bar. "Give him time; he'll make the round-up all

f such a thing? A party has plugged him, and lies there organised with two more loads. Ed, with five shots in hi

ones grown old on the sunset side of the Missouri took on brows of trouble. The latter, counting on that inevitable equilibrium which nature everywhere and under all conditions maintains, looked forward to an er

judicious public sentiment permitted to his caste, and offered a case where the dignity of Dodge required that he be moderately "buffaloed." These slight ebuillitions, however, were as nothings, and came under the caption of child's play. It was not until the t

tsleeves was busy with prosperity. The genial boys of cows, their herds disposed of, were eager to dispense their i

efore Dodge sat down to its prandial meal-which with a simplicity inherited of the fathers it took at noon-had been turned over to certain purchasing gentlemen from the East, for whom they had been gathered. Their task

tol in right proportions, he was worth the watching. Indeed, within the year Mr. Wagner, while thus equipped, had shot himself into such disrepute in the streets of

s whiskey at intervals not too brief, and distributed his custom with an equal justice between the Alhambra with Mr. Kelly, the Alamo with Mr. Webster, and the Long Branch with Mr. Short. Also, he drifted into the outfitting bazaar of Mr. Wright and

le of the Dodge Opera House, he roped the first violin of a dramatic organisation called the Red Stocking Blondes. It was during the overture that

rmal and nothing personal meant, and bid him return no more. Mr. Wagner, acting on the suggestion of Marshal Ed, at once surrendered every scrap of interest in the drama, as expounded by the Red Stocking Blondes. It should be

e beauty and the chivalry of Dodge. Marshal Ed had come over to the Dance Hall

istol of the ivory butt. Aroused by this solecism, Marshal Ed descended upon Mr. Wagner and captured his unlawful embellis

, Ed," remarked Mr. Walke

d it. He made over Mr. Wagner and the weapon of ivory butt to the soft

r might listen and no eye look on, Mr. Walker perfidiously r

re they would do the most harm, "if I was you I'd go surgin' back into the Dance

gner, walking deviously, his broad-rimmed hat cocked at an insulting angle, the offensive six-shooter flapping ost

ot to say warlike, return of Mr. Wagner, it was officially the business of Marshal Ed to shove the muzzle of his own gun into the face of Mr. Wagner and, to quote the words of Dodge as it

pistol of ivory butt from its scabbard; as a counter-move, Marshal Ed, while retaining a right-hand grip on Mr. Wagner's shoulder, grabbed the pistol with his l

of the Dance Hall and thrust the weapon in the face of Marshal Ed. Mr. Walker pulled the trigger, the hammer descended, but instead of the expected repo

ng! The three reports were crowded as close together as the striking of a Yankee clock. Mr. Masterson, from sixty feet away, had p

till ten feet away Mr. Wagner, in the twists and turns of conflict, felt the muzzle of that new ivory-mounted Colt's pistol press for one insignificant moment against the other's breast; he pulled the trigger an

n, who with unfluttered pulse had looked death in the eye a score of times, be

. Kelly; "I only wish I might h

ou, Kell," said Mr. Masterson; "

laid a sympathetic hand o

u want to see Ed? He's dyin';

o see him!" said Mr. Masters